WELCOME
WONDERFUL STUDENTS

TO
THE EXCITING WORLD OF

PHYSICS

Introduction to Preliminary Physics

1. Write down three things you know about physics or
about what physicists do.

2. Name three famous physicists (and say what they did).

3. Is physics the same as
maths? What’s
the relationship?

WHAT IS PHYSICS?

To
see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand
And Eternity in an hour.

from
William Blake’s “Songs of Innocence”

Picture Above: A beautiful
frangipani flower in my garden at home.

"Science
asks the why and how questions and therefore is the process of questioning, not
the acquisition of information. We must always begin by asking questions,
not by giving answers. We must create interest in things, phenomena and
processes."

from
Victor F. Weisskopf "The Privilege of Being a Physicist", W.H. Freeman
& Co., New York, 1989.

Picture Above: The Globular
Cluster called Omega Centauri

Physicists
look at our universe with open minds and hearts and strive to describe and
understand the intricate interrelationships that exist therein.

Picture
Above: Buzz Aldrin on the Moon July 1969 (I watched the Moon walk on a
black and white TV as a Year 4 student at East Maitland Primary School).

WHERE?

The
realm of physics is endless!

From
the very big:

energy
production in stars

galaxy
formation

theories
of how the universe began

To
the very small:

studies
of surface structure and nano-technology

interactions
of atomic, sub-atomic, sub-nuclear particles

basic theories of matter (QED, QCD,GUTs)

WHY?

PURPOSE
- pure knowledge & better standards of life for all - both of which can
bring humanity closer to GOD.

HOW?

QUESTION
- always be curious, imaginative, creative

PONDER
- think logically, think laterally, make predictions

INVESTIGATE
- observe, measure, test, record

SYNTHESIZE
- develop theories that accurately reflect reality

STRIVE
- do your best, be positive, never give up

Physics uses mathematics
to express and describe the relationships between the various aspects of
the universe that come under its scrutiny.

But always remember, Albert
Einstein once said that:

“So
far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain. And so far as they are certain, they do not refer to
reality.”

When
you use maths to describe or solve a problem in the real world always ask does
my description or solution make good physical sense?

Your Journey

In
Year 11 you will study the following topics: The
World Communicates; Electrical Energy in the Home, Moving About & The Cosmic
Engine.

In
the HSC Course you will focus on
Space, Motors & Generators and From Ideas to Implementation and then do ONE
of the following topics: Geophysics,
Medical Physics, Astrophysics, From Quanta to Quarks & The Age of Silicon.

Expectations

Throughout
the course you are expected to do all set homework and Assessment Tasks. Laboratory Reports must be completed and submitted on time.
Answering practice questions & solving problems which get you to apply the theory is the best
way to study physics. Learn the meanings of the verbs used in the Syllabus
points and learn what is expected in answer to each verb. Use the
Syllabus as your Study Guide. Ask your Teacher how to do this.

Use
a loose-leaf folder system for notes and lab reports.

Keep
all work up to date, revise what you do in class on a regular basis and ASK your
Teacher for help if
you are having difficulty!!!

Your Teacher will inform you which text book to
obtain from Book Hire.It
is your responsibility to get this
text during Week 1.

There
are many good texts, specifically written for the Stage 6 Physics Course. You
may like to check out the Physics
Texts page on this site.

Finally,
remember that all senior science courses are distinctly different from and much
harder than junior science. Achieving
good marks takes a great deal of determination, practice and stamina.